1. Self-satisfaction is for many the self-made prison which has restricted their activities, productivity, and happiness.

2. The problem of self-satisfaction is immense.

• Self-satisfaction is a kind of living death - no climbing, growth or improvement.

• It robs the individual and the world of great blessings.

1. Some people cannot be any better, because they do not want to be any better. (Rev. 3:17).

2. Some people are blind to their own faults. (Matt. 7:1-5).

3. Some people are self-satisfied because of a lack of vision.

• They never dream. They never look ahead. They never see things as they could be.

• God's people are warned about a lack of vision (Prov. 29:18).

4. Some people are self-satisfied because they want only to live up to the demands of the average.

• "I am doing as well as the other fellow."

• "Why should I be expected to do better than the average?"

• "What do you do more than others?" Matthew 5:47

• Jesus taught us to excel and go the second mile. (Matt. 5:41).

1. We should never be content with medical science.

• Imagine what a trip to the dentist was like a 100 years ago.

• Imagine what the world would be like without modern vaccines and medicines..

• Imagine what the world will be like if a cure can be found for can cancer and heart disease.

2. We should never be content with our knowledge of God's word. (Jno. 8:32; Psa. 119:105; 2 Tim. 2:15).

• Truth is knowable.

• Truth is saving.

• Truth is guiding.

3. We should never be content with human relations.

• We should strive to make our homes better.

• We should work to get along with others better.

4. We must not be satisfied with missions. (Mk. 16:15).

• The world is lost.

• We must constantly work to improve our efforts and methods of winning the lost.

• Methods will change, but our enthusiasm and dedication to soul-winning must never change or wane.

5. We must not be content with benevolence. (Gal. 6:10).

• We are to do good to all men.

• Above all, we must help those of the family of God.

 6. We must not be satisfied to be like world. (Rom. 12:2; Matt. 5:13-16).

• The Christian is to transform the world not conform to it.

• The Christian is light, not darkness.

7. We must not be content with Christian maturity. (Heb. 5:11-14; 2 Pet. 1:5-11).

• We must never stop growing.

• We must mature as long as we live.

• Though maturity is attainable and has been attained by many, it is never reached in the absolute.

1. It is a paradox.

• The Bible warns us against self-satisfaction, but teaches us to be content.

• Contentment is desirable and achievable but is sinful if it leads to apathy and arrogance and rejection of God.

2. To be contented with one's lot is a thing to be desired; to be contented with one's self is a thing to be dreaded. (Pulpit Commentary)

3. Contentment defined.

• Contentment is not insensibility.

• "I don't care" is not contentment.

• God cares and the Christian cares.

• Contentment is not self-satisfaction. (Rev. 3:14-22).

• Contentment is not apathetic indifference. (l Jno. 3:17).

• Contentment is to be well-pleased, free of anxiety, quiet restfulness in the midst of all kinds of changing events, detachment from anxious concern about the out- ward features and circumstances of life.

4. We are to be content with

• What we have. (Heb. 13:5).

• John Bunyan said, "I am content with what I have, little be it, or much."

• We may have a little or lot, but if we have learned true contentment our happiness will not be destroyed by outward circumstances.

• Our state. (Phil. 4:11).

• Prison

• Slavery (Eph. 6:5-9).

• Married to unbeliever (l Cor. 7:13).

• Handicapped - Some handicaps cannot be overcome, but his does not diminish from one's usefulness and importance.

• Most of us must learn to be content with not being rich or beautiful or famous, etc.

1. We must work at it. (Phil. 4:11).

• "I have learned."

• It may take years or even a lifetime to develop true contentment in most or all of life's circumstances.

2. We should count blessings. (l Thess. 5:18; Eph. 5:20).

• We should concentrate on what we have, rather than what we do not have.

• We should count our blessings, not our blights.

• We should reflect on how bad it could be.

• If we will open our eyes, we will see those who are much less fortunate than we.

• Sober reflection will make us ashamed of our discontentment and make us thankful.

3. We should transfer our attention and affection to holier and higher matters. (Matt. 6:33).

• Our meat should be to do the will of Him who made us. (Jno. 4:30).

• We must change our thinking from the earthly to the heavenly.(Col. 3:1,2).

4. We should keep busy.

• An idle person often thinks of his privations and misfortunes.

• We should stay busy doing good. (Acts 10:38).

5. We should learn that happiness is not tied to "things." (Eccles. 5:10; Lk. 12:15).

• l Timothy 6:6-8

• Psalms 37:16 "Better is the little of the righteous than the abundance of many wicked."

• Proverbs 15:16 "Better is a little with the fear of the Lord, than great treasure and turmoil with it."

 6 We should put our trust in Jehovah.

• The Lord's instructions to be content is based upon His promises that He will not forsake us and He will take care of us. (Heb. 13:5,6).

• He promises to provide the necessities of life. (Matt. 6:25-34; Psa. 37:25; Phil. 4:19).

7. We should put away envy.

• Envy is "chagin or discontent at the excellence or good fortune of another." (Webster, Cruden).

• Examples

• Saul (l Sam. 18:8,9).

• Philistines (Gen. 26:14).

• Elder son (Lk. 15:25-32).

• Haman (Esther 5:9-14).

8. We should put away pessimism.

• The discontented pessimist when asked how things are will reply, "They are so much worse than yesterday, and so much better than I expect to be tomorrow."

• Discontented pessimism is a living death.

9. We should avoid self-pity.

• Elder son (Luke 15:29).

• As long as we say, "Life cheated me," or "I'm so unfortunate" we will not find contentment.

• Pity is good, but it should never be wasted on oneself.

10. We should stop complaining.

• Complaining is a disgusting, sinful habit that destroys contentment.

• The person who constantly complains will not find contentment and will make others discontent.

11. We must not have "I can't be satisfied" attitude.

• Some people say, "I have learned, in whatever state I am, therewith to be discontent." (Phil. 4:11).

• We will only find contentment if we seek contentment.

1. Yes, self-satisfaction is very dangerous and will keep us from reaching the heights God intended.

2. Contentment is a godly attribute that will bring us peace and help us to please God.

3. All Christians should join with David and say. (Psa. 23:2).

4. We all need to read the 128th psalm. (Psa. 128:1-3, R.S.V.).